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Bonds' week as coach 'a lot of fun'

Barry Bonds discusses his participation in Giants camp, his persona during his playing days and how he thinks he can help hitters

By Barry M. Bloom and Tyler Emerick
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MLB.com |

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Barry Bonds' one-week stint as special Giants hitting coach ended on a positive note, and he's available to continue at the largess of manager Bruce Bochy.

"You have to take baby steps," Bonds said before the Giants played the Indians at Scottsdale Stadium. "You can accomplish a little bit in seven days. But Rome wasn't built in a week. It's up to Bochy. He needed to see how I responded to the guys, how the guys responded to me.

"It's not what I think, it's what they think. I've had my time. I've had my career. Those days are gone. It's about what contribution they think I bring to the organization."

Bonds returned Monday to a well-attended press conference and has spent the rest of the week blending into the fabric of spring camp. It was the first time since Sept. 26, 2007, his last game as an active player, that Bonds donned the Giants uniform in an on-field capacity.

Bochy said Bonds had the anticipated impact this past week. On Monday, Bochy said the Giants would "always have a welcome mat out there for him." He reiterated that Sunday.

"He did great," said Bochy, who managed the now 49-year-old Bonds during his final season and has guided the Giants to a pair of World Series titles since he left. "The players got a lot out of what Barry was talking about, both the mental and physical part of hitting. He seemed to enjoy his time here, too. He's really into helping the hitters here. They sense that, that he wants to help. We hope he comes back."

Bonds has relocated from Los Angeles to San Francisco and is now living in the shadow of AT&T Park, where he became the all-time home run leader by passing Hank Aaron on Aug. 7, 2007, on the way to his final tally of 762.

"It was a lot of fun, a lot of fun," he said. "I was on the other side of the wall. I'm used to getting up and getting myself prepared and now I had to get myself mentally prepared to face a group. I never had to do that. My first few days I was very tired. I was in bed at 8:30, gone, exhausted because there's no miracles in this, there's no fast way of getting this. It's a process."

Bonds said he's just trying to fit back in to the entire Giants superstructure both past and present, from Bochy to hitting coach Hensley Meulens.

Bonds reiterated he isn't ready for a full-time job, but would be content to helicopter in any time he's needed.

"He'll go home and have a chance to reflect on his time here," Bochy said. "He's built relationships with many of the guys. Our hope is he does come by, keeps in touch with them and with Meulens, our hitting coach."